. By Rich Miller If you’re getting a strong and unpleasant sense of déjà vu about the new U.S. Census Bureau’s population estimates for counties, including Cook County, you’re not alone. U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-8th) is feeling it as well. Krishnamoorthi, who sits on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, has been trying to…

By Ray Hanania As much as he tries, Brandon Johnson can’t get away from comments that he made about the most important issues facing Chicagoans, his support to “defund” the Chicago police and comments he made defending looters, criminals who destroyed and robbed hundreds of stores after the George Floyd protests. At the time, Johnson,…

By Dr. Cynthia L. Sears and Dr. Fyza Yusuf Shaikh As two physicians who have devoted our lives to studying cancer, we’re thrilled with President Biden’s “Cancer Moonshot” initiative to halve the disease’s death rate within 25 years. But it won’t achieve that goal unless we act on a lesser-known health crisis. For many cancer…

By Rich Miller Could the 2022 massacre during Highland Park’s July 4th parade have been prevented with a small change to state law? It’s never been publicly reported before, but several local sources confirmed this week that Highland Park Police Chief Louis Jogmen wanted to send a city-owned drone above the July 4th parade last year.…

By Ray Hanania No ethnic group in America suffers more than Arabs, even more so than African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans. Why do I say that? Because all of the groups I mentioned, with the exception of Arab Americans, are protected by American laws against discrimination and included in the U.S.…

, By Rich Miller ComEd has long been a source of political patronage. The company’s Deferred Prosecution Agreement with federal prosecutors even references how former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s “old-fashioned patronage system” obtained ComEd meter reader jobs for its precinct workers. Madigan’s wasn’t the only patronage network to do this. It was a widespread practice…

By Ray Hanania Palos Park is a quaint, forest-laden southwest suburban community boasting beautiful trees, wildlife, and amazing looking homes on lush land. Literally designed to be a park, the population is only 4,900. Yet, in that tiny picturesque island, you will find very disrespectful village council members. The council met Monday, Feb. 27, inviting…

By Rich Miller Gov. JB Pritzker declared last week when announcing the formation of the Behavioral Health Workforce Education Center that the state was building “the best behavioral health system in the nation.” It was quite a bold thing to say. So, my associate, Isabel Miller, and I asked a couple of follow-up questions: How…

By Richard Guebert Jr. With winter weather on the horizon, farmers across the state are gearing up for another productive spring planting season. Once the frost melts and the soil temperatures rise, it will be time to hit the fields; but for many farmers, high prices for fertilizer, fuel and other critical tools remain a…

By Ray Hanania The 18-year-old man who reportedly murdered Chicago Police Officer Andrés Vásquez Lasso was a known gang member who slipped through the judicial system because of lenient policies towards gun-wielding criminals by Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. Steven Montano allegedly shot and killed Vásquez Lasso on March 1 near 53rd and Sawyer,…